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London Knights lose back-to-back home games against Guelph Storm

Guelph Storm forward Scott Kosmachuk celebrates after scoring his first goal of the game against the London Knights during OHL action in in London, Ont. onThursday April 10, 2014.net.DEREK RUTTAN/The London Free Press/QMI Agency

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If there is any London Knights magic left, it is being buried under a new wave of calamaties that keep washing them right to the brink.

The two-time defending OHL champions are staring at a month-long slumber before their home Memorial Cup after falling 6-3 to Guelph and now 3-1 down in the OHL Western Conference semifinal before 8,961 Thursday night at Budweiser Gardens.

The Knights lost back-to-back games on home ice. That's the kiss of death in the playoffs.

“We can't lose (two) at home,” sombre Josh Anderson said. “(We get) one win in Guelph and tied the series up. We wanted to come out big and win these next two games. Unfortunately, we didn't and we've got to come back the way we did last year against Barrie.”

Yes, it's down to that. They need to repeat one of the greatest comebacks in junior hockey history, two rounds early against the league's best team who looks less vulnerable every time out.

The Knights scored five goals in these home defeats, two of those when it really didn't mean anything.

That's never enough.

They missed two penalty shots.

Who ever gets two chances like that in one game?

Max Domi, who is injured and fighting through it, couldn't make a backhand attempt work. Gemel Smith tried one late, too.

No dice.

“We expect to score, but unfortunately, we couldn't do it,” Smith, the veteran trade deadline addition, said. “Things didn't go our way and there's only two things we can do. Get bitter or get better.

“We'll be better and hopefully, have a good one (in Game 5).”

The Knights allowed five goals before Jake Patterson got the hook.

The stopper has done more in the last week than anyone expected. But the Knights have only managed a single win.

Defenceman Alex Basso, one of London's three double-shifting defencemen, blocked a shot on a Guelph power play in the opening minute of the third.

He went down in pain. Inspiring stuff, eh?

Storm forward Zack Mitchell pounced on the rebound and jammed it in for a two-goal cushion.

“It's disappointing,” Anderson said. “We didn't come out with the jump we wanted to. We didn't have enough shots. We've got to come out harder (Friday). It's do-or-die for us.

“We've won in Guelph before. It's definitely going to be tough, but we're used to it.”

They have soldiered on through injury, illness, suspension, bad breaks and tough calls this spring.

They never faced this – all at once, anyway – in the two previous glory years.

This is new and frustrating for London.

And Guelph?

It's more than they ever hoped for.

“It's really hard to come in here to London and win once,” giant Storm forward Justin Auger said. “They fill it up with 9,000 fans every night. It's crazy. We're extremely satisfied with two wins here but we've got to come back (Friday) and be even better.”

The Knights have to pick themselves up and play again without any rest and little time for adjustments. They need to win at the Sleeman Centre, the Max Domi House of Boos, to survive.

“Game 4 is always the hardest,” Auger said. “We have to compete the way we have the past two games.”

Guelph is getting the breaks right now. But they have earned their prime position.

“Especially with our team, we get the quick lead and we start to roll,” said star scorer Scott Kosmachuk, who buried the game's first two goals. “London, they're chippy at the net and hard on you and block everything and it's tough to get (to the front of the net). But once you do, it's rewarding.”​

Imagine how knocking them off could feel.

The team that has won nine straight playoff series is back to last gasp time.